The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-10-22

1t was q dreary, rainy night, and after
my wife had gone to bed sat gazing
into the fire in the CRATE wondering
over the case. 1t must have been near
midnight when | rose up to retire to
the bedroom, and as / got on my feet
/ heard a tapping at the window.
You'll think of Poe's "Raven," sir,
and so did !, but, nevertheless, there
was tapping tapping, at the
window. 1t was at window
facing State street, and when
! lifted the curtain and looked out
discerned black object on the win
dow sill. / cautiously raised the sash,
and 10! a partridge fluttered into the
room. The bird was damp and wet,
and it fluttered over to the fire and
dried its feathers while it steadfastly
regarded me. ] own up to you, sir
that was startled, and that l had no
doubt that the spirit OF my friend had
come back TO me.
at may have been three minutes
from the time the bird entered the
room before 1t spread its wings and
alighted on my shoulder. Then it put
its bill against my face and caressed
me in dozen ways, and when l asked
if it was the spirit of my dead friend
it uttered notes of delight. / stroked
its feathers and talked soothingly, but
after ten minutes it flew to the window
and plainly intimated its desire to de-
part. / opened the sash, and with a
last caress it flew away into the storm
and darkness. F."
"And is that your great secretp"
asked, as the man ceased speaking and
leaned back.
THAT is it, and what do you think Of
itp" he asked in turn.
"All nonsense. Better let whisky
| alone"
my friend" he said, after short
pause, II saw what l have told you,
and l believe in the theory thus Illus
trated. No argument that man could
advance would change my opinion"
Hope you'll feel better tomorrow, "
/ said as rose to go.
"Hold on; you shall not go yet, )" he
| exclaimed, as he forced me to sitdown.
Listen we'll to what ! say. ! am dy-
| ing. | know it. The end is nearer
than you think; within twenty-four
hours l shall be corpse. Dare you
defy me to illustrate my theory?'
.H-howP" gasped, a little startled
by his carnestness.
"By returning to earth in some other
form and making myself known to
you"
IF it is possible yen may 60 so,"
answered after bit.
"And | WILL" he said, in deter
mined voice, as he turned his back and
walked away.
The next afternoon, between and
o'clock, the dead body of my singular
friend was found in an unoeeupied
store, where he had crawled like raj
to die. did not know this, mind you
but was at my own home, two miles
away, asleep on the lounge in the sit
ting-room, with my wife engaged VI
stairs, when l was suddenly aroused by
something touching my hand. sprane
up, wide awake in an instant, an6
there at my feet was a beautiful white
and gray rabbit. As l sank back i
sprang up into my lap, and cuddled it,
face to mine with every demonstration
of delight. There was no pet of thu
kind anywhere in the neighborhood
and when | came to examine it closel
l knew that it was wild specimen. l
had the coarse fur of the common
rabbit of the fields, but was clean an(
tidy. was amazed, knowing that al
doors and windows were closed. While
1 was trying to think how the ANNA
could have got in on me, it sat up OIL
end, stroked my cheeks with its paws
and made purring sound like cat
Without knowing that was to speak
l asked:
'.Give me a sign that you are The
spirit of my friend of last night"
The rabbit again cuddled to my face
stroked my cheeks, and acted as if tn,
words were understood. Then
sprang down, ran to the door, and, a
/ opened it, the little creature scam
pered out into the kitchen, and thence
by window, to the alley. l neve
saw it again. Is there such a thing a
TRANSPORTATION? Was the soul or spiri
or substance of the dead doctor EN-
bodied in the hare. and did it come t.
me to keep his promiseP-M Y. Sun.